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I picked up extras to be sure the folks from my local area were covered and, of course, they all picked up tickets themselves. So I have tickets to give out and have an idea of how I would like to distribute them. Initial inquiries seemed to think this would be OK with the powers that be, but to be on the safe side, I will post the concept here and if whoever has the final yea/nay over this area (Lisa, Vic, Chris, ???) will let me know if I can proceed, then I will.
That out of the way, here's the concept:
As some of you may know, I have been doing the layout for Wayfinder since issue 6. We utilize Dropbox for dealing with the articles, art, InDesign files, pdfs, etc. And the last two issues have been a scramble to free up enough space to accommodate all the content for the issues.
So I was thinking, why not offer up the extra banquet tickets to folks who sign up for, download and install dropbox through a personalized link that would give me some additional storage space on dropbox (as well as boost the initial storage space for the folks who sign up, download and install it through the link I would provide).
Would it be cheaper to just pay $99/year for 100G of storage rather than effectively shell out $25/500MB ... yeah, in the short term, but I figure I would get to kill two birds with one ticket by (1) getting someone who missed on out on the banquet tickets into the banquet at no monetary cost to them and (2) possibly put off the inevitable upgrade to a paid account for another year maybe two (in which case, this would be cheaper at two years ... not much, but a hair).
So before anyone says they want the tickets (I'll kick out a new thread for folks who are interested in to post as well as how I will be handling it), I just want to be extra sure this does not violate any policy re: ticket transfers, etc. Though if you think this is a good/bad idea for distribution, go ahead and let me know. If enough folks think it is a bad idea (or does result in a policy violation), then I'll figure out an alternate method of distributing the tickets.
It sounds like you'd give the tickets to the first people to sign up/download/etc. Is it that, or a raffle?
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well, the plan is to create a new thread to announce the idea is viable and live and have folks post to that thread that they are interested. I would then send out the link via PM to folks in the thread in the order they submitted until I have only one extra ticket unaccounted for (which will act as a buffer and, if not needed as a buffer, I may hold on to to gift out to a random person at the event itself). These folks would then have 24 hours (or most likely until midnight ET the following day, so 24+ hrs) to click the link, download dropbox and install it.
I will double check with dropbox to see who has installed it (referrals do show up as to their stage in the referral process). The folks who complete it in the time frame, get the ticket. If they don't, I will PM them they are out of the running and move on to the next person on the list.
I do want to be as fair as possible with this and will post the expected time for the new thread to begin (along with subject line, etc) so that folks will know when to look for it so as to avoid the issue of it randomly showing up and folks getting irked. That said, please know that I am on the East Coast of the US, any time I list will be in ET, and I will attempt to have this process start on a weekend day (to try to minimize work conflicts for as many people as possible).
EDIT: for folks who already use dropbox. You can have multiple dropbox accounts synced to a single machine, but each one needs to be under a different user account on the machine. Please also be aware that Dropbox will frown upon more than two accounts on a machine for giving referral credit. I speak from experience on both of these fronts.
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Or maybe I'll just utilize the dice rolling mechanic of the site and give them away 1 at a time with a "Guess What I Am Gonna Roll" type game.
Let folks post their guess and whoever is closest without going over wins the ticket (if two folks post the same number, the first poster gets it ... limit 1 number per post ... no going the route of the "Count to a million" thread). And just put the referral link in the initial post so if folks are feeling generous, they can click through and my storage on dropbox would increase.
Less pressure, folks would have a few days to see the thread and post and it eliminates all the potential bookkeeping on my end.
Of course, I would need to go with something crazy like to keep someone form just posting every number ...
Or maybe it would be something else.
Hell, I don't even know if there are folks looking for banquet tickets. Would make this entirely moot if there aren't. ;)
Zyl... you do know you can get the tickets refunded right?
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Woot! There is interest!
OK, so the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards the "Guess the Number" model. I will go ahead and create the new thread in the morning, will let folks post guesses for a couple days and then start kicking out tickets.
So ... folks who want a free ticket to the banquet, keep your eyes out for the "Free Ticket Extravaganza #1" thread in the morning (should be up by 9am ET on 6/1/13). Rules will be posted there.